Tennessee Passes Law to Teach Creationism In Schools

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam didn’t sign the bill, allowing it to become law without his signature; but he didn’t veto it, either.

The legislation, dubbed the “Monkey Bill” by critics, had sailed through the conservative-leaning state’s Republican-dominated legislature.

Haslam, a Republican, earlier had said he would sign the bill despite his misgivings about its impact on the state’s science curriculum. After a petition drive against the proposed legislation, he chose to let it become law without his signature.

“I do not believe that this legislation changes the scientific standards that are taught in our schools or the curriculum,” Haslam said on Tuesday. “I also don’t believe that it accomplishes anything …”

The bill permit discussions of alternative theories of evolution and other issues such as global warming. How about gravity and whether Obama is really an American?